Verkykerskop Country Village and Farm
Almost every town in the Free State shares a common history. In short: the Voortrekkers arrived in the 1820’s and 1830’s, claimed land and started farmsteads where they found water and suitable land. Settlements sprang up (often due the discovery of gold or diamonds on the respective farms), a church was built and a little Free State town was born. Many haven’t changed much over time, while others have grown into ‘farming meccas’.
In the 21st century, the world is facing an environmental crisis, with small community based conservancies increasingly playing crucial roles in saving habitats. One such conservancy in the Eastern Free State has taken it a step further, and in the process gone full circle. A new village has been born on a Free State farm…and you are invited to visit, and even live there.
Verkykerskop consists of a Green Living Village development with an antiques shop, general dealer, deli and coffee shop in beautiful old farm buildings, within the Aansluit Landgoed, a 700ha working farm and conservation area in the hills of the Klein Drakensberg (small Drakensberg), just off the R722 45km north of Harrismith, south of Memel and east of Warden.
The very rural and open area consists of rolling escarpment grasslands dotted with wetlands, flat-topped sandstone formations and mountains, gorges and koppies.
One is invited to buy and invest in Verkykerskop, but you can also visit and enjoy accommodation and area activities such as birding, hiking, mtb, bass and fly-fishing, quad-biking and more, with Verykerskop offering a concierge service (rather delightfully through its own tourism association) to put you touch with the individual activity operators and guides. Many of these activities and resources are offered on Afsluit itself.
Accommodation is available in several quaint farm-style establishments, most of which are the original farm buildings. These include ‘The Central Motel’, ‘Townsview Cottage’, ‘Afsluit Guesthouse’, the ‘Outpost Inn’ and the ‘Ou Skooltjie Cottage.’
The accommodation includes all modern amenities, including DSTV, within the overall Green Living ethos, respect for, preservation and restoration of the natural environment.
“This hideaway offers peace, tranquillity and privacy to families, friends and corporates alike. Our hospitality and the pleasures of country living and farm life will surely see you back.”
Getting there: Take the R722 north from Harrismith.
More info on the quaint town of Warden | More info on the Eastern Free State area |
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